Merkel defends construction of Nord Stream 2: "Believed in connection through trade"

Created: 06/18/2022, 10:50 am

By: Yasina Hipp

Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel surprises with her most recent statements, after she had been quiet for a long time.

Now it justifies the construction of Nord Stream 2.

Berlin - for 16 years she was at the head of the Federal Republic of Germany and steered the fortunes of the country - also with a view towards Russia and Ukraine.

Since Olaf Scholz took office just months before the Ukraine conflict, ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel had become quiet.

That was now over - Merkel surprised with her current statements.

The former chancellor does not admit to any mistakes in foreign policy, but does admit to failures in terms of her influence on Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin towards the end of her term in office.

In an interview with the

, she also talks about the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which has been the focus of the debate about Germany's energy supply since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Merkel justifies the construction of the pipeline.

Merkel explains position at the time of the decision to build Nord Stream 2

The approximately 1,234 km long natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 runs from Russia through the sea towards Germany.

Russian gas was to be routed through the Baltic Sea pipeline - but the line is currently empty due to the global political situation.

Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel explains her decision to build the pipeline as follows: "I didn't believe in change through trade, but in connection through trade, with the second largest nuclear power in the world." been an easy decision.

Ultimately, the decisive factor for the construction was the thesis that "when Nord Stream 2 is in operation, Putin will no longer supply gas through Ukraine or will even attack it," said Merkel.

The West ensured that gas was still routed through Ukraine and that they continued to receive transit fees.

The funniest grimaces of the ex-Chancellor and Chancellor candidate 2021

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Merkel: Gas transport from Russia was economically cheaper, stresses ex-Chancellor

Merkel goes on to explain that she and her government opted for Russian gas at the time because it was "economically cheaper" than liquid gas "from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and later also from the USA." The new government, led by Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck, is now trying to break away from Germany's resulting dependence on Russian energy supplies with alternatives.

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This also includes the construction of LNG terminals.

Merkel also commented on the liquid gas terminals.

In principle, it had already been said that taxpayers' money was used to support the construction of such terminals, but no company was found "because there was no importer who would have booked long-term capacities in advance because of the high price," said Merkel.